Electrical program controller



Aug. 28, 1956 L. L. BROWN ELECTRICAL PROGRAM CONTROLLER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Jan. 24, 1955 F/G/ O LESTER L. BROWN INVENTOR.

Afforny Aug. 28, 1956 L. L. BROWN 2,761,102

ELECTRICAL PROGRAM CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2IIIIIlII-MIIW-IJIIIIHIIHM P76 7 III II 1 llll 47d 4 9 l5 I 0b A LESTERL. BROWN 7 INVENTOR. I a 4/ 48 United States Patent 2,761,102 ELEGTRICALPROGRAM CONTROLLER Lester L. Brown, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application January 24, 1955, Serial No. 483,749

8 Claims. (Cl. 323-94) This invention relates generally to controlmechanisms and relates more particularly to automatic operation orprogram control means.

There are many types of installations requiring means to control thesequence of a series of operations or events, or to control a device ordevices according to a predetermined pattern or guide. This type ofcontrol can be effected automatically by electrical means.

One example of the use of this type of equipment is in the control of anautomatic lathe which must perform a series of operations.

There is, at present, equipment adapted to automatically control theoperation of such a lathe through electrical controls. However, thisequipment has limitations and where a machine whose operationsare to beprogrammed are provided with electrical or electronic equipment, thecontrol of such equipment must be effected through instructions to whichsaid electronic equipment will respond as, for example, voltage andvoltage changes.

While the present invention is shown and described in connection withthe control of industrial equipment. or machines, it is to be understoodthat its utility is not confined thereto. For example, another usethereof is in the control of electronic or analog computers and thelike. In many instances in programming electronic computers physicalfunctions are encountered which cannot be described by simplemathematical expressions, e. g. square pulses, trapezoids, odd functionsand the like. However, when drawn as a graph these functions are usuallysimple in nature, and it is an object of the present invention toprovide means whereby these functions may be readily effected.

It is another object of the present invention to provide means of thischaracter for effecting a predetermined control in terms of electricalvoltages.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this characterwhich will effect a control according to a graphic form to producevoltages related thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of this characterwherein a graph on a sheet of paper may he used which will provide thepattern desired.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of thischaracter for effecting a repeated pattern or which may provide apattern which is never repeated.

Another object of the invention is to provide means of this characterwhich can use a graph of any desired shape and convert the same intoelectrical voltages directly proportional (or related by any set lawdesired, e. g. logarithmic) to the shape or form of said graph.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means of thischaracter for quickly and easily effecting the above controls.

A further object of the invention is to provide mean of this characterthat are extremely flexible.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means of thischaracter that is simple in construction and reliable in operation. I

Another object of the invention is to provide means of 'ice thischaracter that is relatively inexpensive to menufacture. p t I Thecharacteristics and advantages of the invention are further sufficientlyreferred to in connection with the. following detailed description ofthe accompanying drawings which represent several embodiments. Aftercon: sidering these examples skilled persons will understand that manyvariations may be made without departing from the principles disclosedand Icontemplate the em:

pended claims.

Referring to the drawings, which are for illustrated,

purposes only:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a controlmechanism. embodying the presentinvention; a

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 1; I

Fig. 3 is a schematic end view showing the arrangement of the variousparts and a sheet of paper. operably disposed in the mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-- 4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 isa sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. l; I

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram showing a potentiometer arrangement of thetype used in the present invention;

Fig. 7 is a schematic view of the mechanism showing the electricalsystem, including a potentiometer, embodied therein; Fig. 8 is adiagrammatic view showing an alternative resistor arrangement in theroller; and

Fig. 9 is another alternative arrangement of the resistor. Referringmore particularly to the drawings, the mechanism includes a base 10having upstanding endmembers 11 spaced apart and provided with aremovable top portion 12 secured to the members 11 by suitable screws13. A sensing roller, indicated generally at 15, is mounted between theend members and is formed of a plurality of laminations, as best shownin Fig. 5. The laminations comprise washers or disks 16 of electricallyconducting material such as aluminum foil or the like and washersordisks 17 of insulating material. The conducting disks 16 are arrangedalternatively with the insulating disks, and said disks are disposed ona supporting rod 18 and the insulating disks 17 may be thicker than theconducting disks 16. It is to be noted that the central or axialopenings 19 in the conducting disks are substantially larger than thediameter of the rod 18 while theopenings in the insulating disks are ofsubstantially the same diameter as the diameter of the rod. At the endsof the roller are relatively thick disks 2! of insulating materialwhichhave outward extensions 22. The outer end portions of the, rod 18are threaded for reception of nuts which secure and tightly compress thedisks on the rod 18.

Roller 15 may be of any desired length and by using relatively thindisks 16 and 17 extremely fine definition.

or control is obtained. As these disks or laminations are :very thin theroller may be made up by placing same on the rod 18 and tightlycompressing them together. Thereafter the roller may be turned on alathe to obtain a perfectly smooth surface at which the edges of thefoil and paper insulating disks 16 and 17 are exposed.

Means for rotatably mounting the roller 15 includes the extensions 22 ofthe disks 20, these extensions being being rotatably mounted in suitableopenings provided therefor in the end supports 11 and '12. Half of theThe resistance element for the roller '15 may beof P e eia asters.

any suitable character. For example, in the arrangement shown in Figs. 1and 2, the resistance element, indicated at 25, comprises a graphitepencil mark which extends from one end of the laminated portion of theroller to the other and contacts annular armatures 21 mounted on thedisks '20. Through the armatures 21 the resistance element 25 isconnected into the electrical system, said armatures being engaged bythe free end portions 26 of brushes 27 secured to lugs 27a of theportions 12 by means of screws 27b.

At the sides of the roller 15 and below the same are idler rollers 30aand 30b the respective ends of said rollers 30 and 31 being journalledin openings provided therefor in the supports 11. 'Beneath the roller 15and extending longitudinally thereof, is a pressure member or bar B11mounted in suitable grooves 62 provided therefor in the supports 11 andurged upwardly by yielding means such as springs '33 mounted in saidrecesses. A strip of insulating sheet material 35 which may be paper, isthreaded through the device and is disposed beneath the rollers 30a and30b, and between the pressure bar 31 and the roller 15.

Any suitable means may be used for moving the sheet of paper through thedevice. This means is shown as comprising a pair of rollers '36 onopposite sides of said sheet and operably engaging same, said rollers 36being connected together by suitable gears, not shown, in a gear housing37 and being driven by a motor 3 8 through a shaft 39. The rollers 36are adapted to rotate in such a manner as to pull the strip of paper tothe left, as shown in Fig. 2, at a predetermined rate, the roller 15being rotated through its frictional engagement with the sheet 35,although a positive drive may be provided for the roller 15 insynchronism with the movement of the sheet or strip 35. In thisarrangement the strip of paper may be carried on one roller and wound onanother roller at the opposite end so that there does not necessarilyhave to be a repetition of the program or cycle of operation.

The electrical system includes a potentiometer indicated generally at40. In the simplified arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the potentiometer isshown as having a fixed voltage applied to the outside terminal. -Avariable voltage is therefore available between .the terminal 41 and thebrush 44 and this voltage is directly proportional to the distance mn asdetermined by the position of the brush. Thus the voltage output at theterminals 41 and 42, the latter being connected to the brush 44, is afunction of the distance mn along the potentiometer.

In Fig. 7 the potentiometer is also indicated at and includes theresistance element 25 of the roller 15. The :brushes 26 .are connectedby wires 45 and 46 to a source of electrical energy, indicated at 47.The wire 46 has a connection 47a with the terminal 42 and terminal 41 isconnected .to the idle roller 30b by a wire 48, roller 30b being adaptedto make contact with a graph line '49 which is of graphite or any othersuitable electrical conducting material. The pressure bar 31, which maybe of any suitable character for the purpose for which it is intended,maintains the strip of paper in contact with the roller 15 and theconducting laminations or disks 16 form the connection between the graphline 49 and the resistance 25. It will be obvious that the position ofthe line '49 with respect to the axis of the roller '15 will determinethe resistance provided through the potentiometer and hence the voltageat the terminals 41 and 42, the latter being adapted to be connected toa machine to be controlled and indicated generally at 42a.

As has been indicated above the graph line 49 may be of any suitablematerial that will conduct electricity. When of graphite, the line maybe drawn with a pencil and, due to the thinness of the laminations ordisks several of the metallic disks will engage even a very thin pencilline, thus insuring a good cont-act therewith.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 8, the resistance element is shown ascomprising a strip 25a of resistance metal which is set in a grooveprovided therefor in periphery of the roller 15, the outer surface ofthe resistance element 26a being in the same plane as the cylindricalplane of the exterior of the roller 15. In Fig. 9, the resistanceelement is indicated at 25]) disposed within an opening providedtherefor in the roller 15.

In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3, the sheet of paper 35a passes underroller 30a, over a roller 53, about a roller 54, under roller 30b andbetween roller 15 and bar 31 to provide an endless belt arrangement fora repetitive program. Means for actuating or moving the sheet 35acomprises a motor 55 connected to the roller 53 by a shaft 56.

While the electrical system includes a potentiometer it is to beunderstood that a simpler system may include only the resistanceelement, or any other suitable arrangement may be used.

It is to be noted that while the sensing element "15 is described asbeing rotatably mounted, the element will function properly withoutrotating. When this element does not rotate the above-described graphiteor pencil line works very satisfactorily as a resistance element.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it is thought thatit will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,construction and arrangement of the parts of the invention withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof or sacrificing all of itsmaterial advantages, the forms hereinbefore described being merelypreferred embodiments.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A program controller, comprising: support means; a sensing rolleroperably mounted in said support means, said roller comprising aplurality of thin metal foil disks and insulating disks arrangedalternately, a supporting rod for said disks, said rod being of smallerdiameter than the opening in the foil disks so that said foil disks donot contact said rod, relatively thick end disks having outwardlyextending portions, ring armatures on each of said end disks, a graphiteresistance element extending from one end to the other of the roller incontact with the foil disks, and forming a part of a potentiometercircuit, clamping means for clamping the disks on the rod; a source ofelectrical power; a brush at each end of the roller for contact with therespective armatures, said brushes having respective connections withsaid source of power; an output connection with one of said brushconnections; a pair of idler rollers mounted in said support meansbeneath and to respective sides of the sensing roller; a pressure barextending longitudinally of the sensing roller and beneath the same;yielding means urging one edge of said sensing bar toward the sensingroller; a strip of sheet material threaded beneath the idling rollersand between the sensing roller and pressure bar; a graph line ofelectrical conducting material on the sensing roller side of the strip,one of said idling rollers being in the output side of the potentiometerand in contact with said graph line; and means for moving said strip ofsheet material in one direction at a predetermined rate.

2. A program controller, including: a sensing roller, said rollercomprising a plurality of thin electrical conducting disks andinsulating disks arranged alternately, means securing said diskstogether, end disks having outwardly extending bearing portions forrotatable mounting of said roller, armatures on each of said end disks.a resistance element extending from one end to the other of the rollerin contact with the conducting disks, and forming a part of apotentiometer circuit, a source of electrical power; a brush at each endof the roller for contact with the respective armatures, said brusheshaving respective connections with said source of power; an outputconnection with one of said brush connections; a pair of idler rollersbeneath and at respective sides of the sensing roller; a pressure barextending longitudinally of the sensing roller and beneath the same;yielding means urging said sensing bar toward the sensing roller; astrip of sheet material threaded beneath the idling rollers and betweenthe sensing roller and pres sure bar; a graph line of conductingmaterial on the sensing roller side of the strip, one of said idlingrollers being in electrical contact With said graph line; and means formoving said strip of sheet material at a predetermined rate.

3. In a program controller: a rotatable sensing roller; said rollercomprising a plurality of thin electrical conducting disks andinsulating disks arranged alternately, a resistance element extendingfrom one end to the other of the roller in contact with the conductingdisks, means operably connecting the resistance element into anelectrical control circuit; a pair of idler rollers mounted in operablerelation to the sensing roller; a strip of sheet material threadedbeneath the idling rollers; means urging said strip against the sensingroller; a graph line of conducting material on the sensing roller sideof the strip, one of said idling rollers being in electrical contactWith said graph line; and means for moving said strip of sheet materialin one direction at a predetermined rate.

4. The invention defined by claim 3 wherein the strip of sheet materialcomprises an endless belt; and there is means for operably supportingsaid belt.

5. In a program controller: a rotatable sensing roller, said rollercomprising a plurality of thin disks of electrical conducting materialand insulating disks arranged alternately, a resistance elementextending from one end to the other of the roller in contact with theconducting disks and comprising part of an electrical circuit; a stripof sheet material having a graph of conducting material on one side ofthe strip, the graph side of said strip engaging said roller; and meansfor moving said strip of sheet material.

6. In a program controller: a rotatable sensing roller, said rollercomprising a plurality of thin electrical conductor disks and insulatingdisks arranged alternately, a resistance element extending from one endto the other of the roller in contact with the conductor disks; and astrip of insulating sheet material; a graph of conducting material onone side and engageable with said roller.

7. A program controller, comprising: support means; a sensing memberoperably mounted in said support means, said sensing member comprising aplurality of thin metallic laminations and insulating laminationsarranged alternately, a resistance element extending from the sensingmember in contact with the metallic laminations; means making operableelectrical contacts with said resistance element; a strip of sheetmaterial engaging the sensing member; a graph of conducting material onthe sensing member side of the strip; and means for moving said strip ofsheet material in one direction at a predetermined rate.

8. The invention defined by claim 7 wherein the means for moving saidstrip comprises electric motor means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

